Electric wire conduit



23, 1932- B. N. BROUNER 1,873,815

ELECTRIC WIRE CONDUIT Filed Nov. 21, 1950 INVENTOR. Bend aminTLBrounen TORNEY Patented Aug. 23, 1932 UNITED STATES BENJAMIN m1- IBROUNER, OF TAKOMA PARK,

ELECTRIC WIRE CO NDUIT I s Application filed November 21, 1930, Serial no. Quasi This invention relates to surface conduits for protectively carrying electric wires, and the like, over the floors of buildin such conduits being'used Where it is un esirable to cut into, or throu h the floors. Conduits of this character or naril present an unsightly and abruptly ralsed obstruction, which is liable to be torn loose from its position when accidentally kicked by persons passing over it, and which, further, may

' sometimes cause serious falls to the persons so accidentally kicking or stumbling over the same.

Therefore, the object of this invention is to provide a surface conduit, for application to a floor, which will obviate the above named, and other, objectionable features. Other. objects may later become, apparent.

* In general, the conduit embodied by this ,invention is characterized by a top wall, 'so

constructed and arranged as to smoothly, and progressively, increase in height from each edge toward its central position. This construction presents a surface over which a pe sons foot may easily glide without interference, there being no surface against which the persons shoe may in suflicient urchase to cause injury, eit er to the con uit, or to the personhimself. The invention is further characterized by a plurality of parallel walls, which extend longitudinally be-' neath the top along itslength, so as to provide a passage, or passages, through which various types of electrical wires may be safely conducted.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is an example of a surface conduit constructed in accordance with this invention. i Q

Fig. 2 is another form, which may be used where it is not necessary to provide a completely enclosing conduit.

Figs. 3 and 4, respectively, are end and bottom plan views of a modified form, which is desirable because it may be constructed without, necessarily, the use of special dies.

Figs. 5 and 6 are, respectively, end and bottom plan views of another form of that shown by the just preceding two figures.

Fig. 7 is an upstanding section permitting upward extension of a conduit.

Fig. 8 shows a Tsection, for use when one conduit must end in another.

Figi 9 shows a union, or coupling, which ma e interposed between slightly separated en s of two sections to provide a safe exit for wiring carried therein.

Fig. 10 is a union, havi a similar pu ose to the one shown in Fig. 9, but adapte for right angularly related conduits.

Fig. 11 is a cross section on the line 11-'11 of Fig. 1.

In the drawing, similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In Fig. 10f the drawing, there is shown a conduit, formed integrally from sheet material, and consisting of a pair of'upstanding vertical walls 12, the material being bent outwardly at the base or bottom of these walls to form a pair of horizontal bottom walls 13.

One of the walls 12 is doubled upon itself, 7

down on its side facing the other wall, and then bent toward this other wall to provide a third bottom wall 14. Between each outer, and free, edge of the walls 13 the material is arched over to providea top 15. .This top,

because of its shape, smoothly and progres- .sively increases in height from each of its the apertures 16, the top 15 is provided with holes 18 of suflicient size to ermit application of the screws 17 thereth ough, and the use of a. screw-driver to drive the screws. If nails are found desirable they may be tioned through the holes 18, and driven own to the bottom walls 13 by means of a nail set minc In some ca ses, it may not be necessary to provide acompletely enclosing conduit. In such an instance, it is'advantageous to employ the form shown by Fig. 2 of the drawing, this being a modification of the just previously described form, and which eliminates the central bottom wall 14. This results in a considerable saving of material, and aids in the ease of installation of the wiring, it not being lized to conduct electric wires of low voltages,

Such as buzzer wires, and the like, which require little room because of'their less bulky insulating cover. ,This form of fastening may, if desired, be substituted for the one previously described. When a comparatively small footage o conduit is desired, the form of the invention shown in Figs. 3 to 6 may be more economically produced, in some instances, than that shown by Figs. 1 and 2. Here the invention is shown with a top 19, of the identical shape of-the top 15, but supported by a channel section 20. This channel section 20 is fixed to the top 19 by soldering, spot welding, or the like,

. and may either have its closed face in connection therewith, or, if found preferable, the three edges of its sides. The first named form provides an open conduit, with its advantages of easy installation, while the second form provides a closed conduit, which may be in some instances more desirable than the open conduit.

The section shown in Fig. 7 is for the purpose of extending a conduit up a wall or a desk side. Fig. 8 shows a T section provided with an outlet hole 21 closed by a flush fitting plug 22. This hole is threaded, so that by removing the plug 22 a conventional electric wire bushing may be screwed therein to procoupling is short. in

vide safe wire outlet. The side walls 12 are pref rably rounded where they form the midsection, as shown by dotted lines, to form a non-abrasive corner against which the wires may bear. This further provides a relative large space within the section, to permit the wiresbeing spliced and wrapped with insulatin tape in the usual manner.

an opening 2,1 of the identical form to the one previously shown, through which the conducted wiring may be lpassegll. As this engt an will have each of its end edges supported by the sections of conduit'on which it rests, there is no necessity for any internal bracing. The coupling shown by Fig. 10 has the same features, and is of the same construction as the one just described, with the exception that it is of a right angle shape to accommodate right angularly disposed sections of conduit.

It will be seen from the foregoing that a -conduit constructed in accordance with this invention may be advantageously applied to a floor over which-people constantly walk. When struck by one of their feet no damage will result, as the wedge-like action of its sides will cause the shoe to glide smoothly over its top so as not to cause discomfort by stumbling. Neither .is there any chance of'it being torn loose or uprooted, for it is impossible to obtain suflicient purchase to apply any great force to it. It is inconspicuous even when laid upon an otherwise flat floor, and may, because of its 'novel' construction, be made extremely flat, and of little height.

Although various specific forms of the invention have been shown, it is to be understood that one skilled in the art may conceive other forms not here shown, and it is intended that the appended claims cover the invention so as to apply to variations thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what passed therethrough for cooperation with the apertures of said bases to fasten the conduit to a surface. a

2. A surface conduit formed of relatively thin material comprising an arcuate top portion arranged with its longitudinal edges contacting with 'a supporting surface when secured thereto, said portion having its outer face strictly following the curvature of an arc so as to be entirely free of angles and flat regions and with the radius of said are and the transverse dimension of the top portion being such that the highest point of said outer face will lie close to said surface, and means located beneathv'said top portion for housing electric wires.

3. A surface conduit formed of relatively thin material comprising an arcuate top portion arranged with its longitudinal edges contacting with a supporting surface when secured thereto, said portion having its outer face strictl following the curvature of an arc so as to be entirely free of angles and flat regions and with the radius of said arc and the transverse dimension of the to portion being such that the highest point 0 said outer face will lie close to said surface, and means located beneath said top portion for housing electric wires and for bracing and I supporting the top portion between said longitudinal edges, said means comprisin wall portions arranged relative to each ot er so. as to extend across the conduit from edge to edge of the top portion and with at least one of said wall portions-extending between said supporting surface and said top portion.

4. A' surface conduit comprising a pair of parallel spaced walls, a wall extending laterally outwardly from an edge of each of said parallel walls, a top wall extending from the outer edge of one of said last mentioned walls to the outer edge of the other of said last mentioned walls, said top wall being arcuately shaped throughout its entire width so as to be entirely free of angles and flat regions, and an additional wall extending between said parallel walls.

In testimony whereof I aflix my 'si ature.

BENJAMIN NEFF BROU R. 

